Seven EU countries willing to give up Russian sanctions:Bloomberg

(QHA) -

Seven EU countries are willing to give up sanctions against Russia. Thus, the moderation of the sanctions regime is supported by Cyprus, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Spain, writes Bloomberg.

The findings are based on an analysis of agency's "guest book" of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Thus, in February, President Nicos Anastasiades gave access to the Cypriot ports for the Russian Navy after his visit to Russia.

Another EU leader who visited Putin in March was the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, whom Putin even called a "privileged partner."

The Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras is also going to come to Moscow in April.

"Along with Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Spain, these three countries are not supportive of the economic blockade, carried out as a protest against Russian aggression in Ukraine," – says the agency.

As The Financial Times mentioned earlier, the EU countries cannot come to an agreement on the issue of sanctions against Russia. Britain and the Baltic States as well as Scandinavia are the hardliners towards Russia. They insist that the sanctions against Russian companies were prolonged in advance.

France, Italy and Spain, however, made it clear they would not risk it to prolong sanctions, since they fear provoking Moscow, and endangering fragile Minsk agreements.